ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

John raises a great point about social skills - it's a team venture every time, and usually with different people each time. People want to work with people they like, so be sure you're friendly and humble and likeable and you'll find progression easier. Do great work, stuff people admire, be upfront and honest about your role in it, and people will want you back when the budget is bigger

11 years ago - Dan Selakovich

Yeah, doesn't really work that way. It depends on the opportunities that come your way. I've been an editor for years, but worked as an assistant editor on a friend's film because he was cutting on film, and their weren't any assistants around that knew the job. So it can be a back and forth situation. You may be an AC on a big film, but a DP on a no budget.

A better way to DP, I think, is to work up to gaffer. If you're going through the camera department, you need to work your way up to camera operator.

11 years ago - John Lubran

Every part of film making education is approachable by at least two processes. Learning by rote and learning by God given aptitude. Then there’s the technical operating demands that differ from project to project, mostly to do with production apparatus and how to interface and work with software. In my experience nearly every specific technical production skill (not necessarily its artistic application) essential to film making has been demonstrated to be rapidly achievable, in many cases, within weeks, certainly not years. The keys to rapid progress are opportunity, aptitude and importantly attitude (particularly to other people, there’s nothing more inappropriate than being a graceless arse). Apart from excellent social skills the management of departments and people is more about organisational and business skills than any profound knowledge of technicalities.

Apart from being an independent film maker, I've been teaching most aspects of television, documentary and ‘low budget’ film making for over twenty years and been involved in a few bigger budget features too. One of the profound realizations I've come to is just how hugely different are the career development paths of individuals. Whilst there’s a lot to learn for those who want to have a working ability, if not high skill, in everything about film making, none of it is rocket science; it’s more about creative artistry and intelligence. Some folk opt for the formal training routes beloved of educational institutions (businesses) and for some that process works appropriately, but unless the ‘spirit quickens’ and the aspirant acquires ‘critical mass’ early, which enables jumping across from learning by rote to learning by creating, that path can be a very long one indeed. The God given aptitude path however can be astonishingly rapid and I've seen careers bloom from virtual ‘know nothing’ to multifaceted and multitasking brilliance within just months and even in a few cases within the relative instantaneous of weeks. The trigger point is when vision and confidence merge with a sufficiency of technical understanding.